CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS.

A young Englishman, named Albert B. Lloyd,

ha 3 just accomplished a remarktee gmeat able and record journey from FOREBT OF Toru, tbe western province of night. Uganda. Traversing ' Stanley's great pigmy forest, he crossed it by a more Boutherly route than that covered by the great 'explorer, and, after most interesting adventures with the pigmies, descended the whole length of tbe Aruwimi, passing through immense tracks of forest inhabited only by cannibals. Subsequently he descended the main Congo lliver to the terminus of the railway, whence he proceeded to Matadi by train. On reaching the coast he travelled to Europe by Portuguese mail, via Lisbon. A considerable portion of his route through Africa liad not been traversed by a European since Stanley's expedition, and some of it had never before been explored ; but Mr Lloyd, attended though he was only by a couple of ,Baganda servants and carriers, met with no difficulty from the natives, and had not to fire a shot in self-defence. For twenty days he was walking through the gloomy shades of the great Dark Forest. At a little place called Hoelnga Mr Lloyd encountered a great number of pigmies, who came to see him. " They told me," he says, " that, unknown to myself, they had been watching me for five days, peering through the growth of the primeval forest at our caravan. They appeared to be very frightened, and, even when speaking, covered their faces. I slept at this village, and in the morning I asked the chief to allow me to photograph the d waifs. He brought ten or fifteen of them -together, and I was enabled to secure a snapshot. I couldn't give a time exposure, as the pigmies would not stand still." Mr Lloyd then essayed to measure them, and he found not one of them over 4ft in height. He was, however, amazed at their sturdine3s. All were fully developed. The women were slighter than the men, but were equally well formed. Their arms and chests were splendidly developed — as much so as in a good specimen of an Englishman. These men have long boards half-way down tho chest, which imparts to them a strange appearance. They are very timid, and cannot look a stranger in tho face. Their eyes are constantly shifting, as in the case of monkeys. They ore fairly intelligent. Except for a tiny htrip of bark cloth, men and women are quite nude. They are armed with bowa and arrows — the latter tipped with deadly poison — and carry small spears. They are entirely nomadic, sheltering at night in small huts 2ft to 3ft in heigh^. They never go outside the forest. Though the pigmies were very friendly, Mr Lloyd's progress through the forest was not unexciting. Enormous trees fell at intervals, crashing to the ground and breaking the death-like stillneßS of the place. Afs night-time thepe reports were most startling. The foreet is literally alive with elephants, leopards, wild pigs, buffalo, and antelope. Fires at night kept off any leopards that might have been prowling around the traveller's little encampment. On hiß journey down the Aruwimi, Mr Lloyd passed through the country of the cannibal Bangwa tribe, and was received most kincfly by them. At one place he put together the bicycle he had with him, and. at the suggestion of these people, rode round their village in the middle of a forest. The eceno was remarkable, as thousands of men, women, and children turned out, dancing and yelling, to see what they ■ described as a European riding a snake.

At present on a visit to New Zealand is the

Rev. Dr Abbott, rector of St. literary James's, Cambridge, U.S.A., LiFJt in and editor of the Boston LiteAmerica, rary World. To an inter-

viewer from the Chrislchurch Press he Hpoke in an interesting way regarding the literary life of America. Since the war there has, he says, been a widening and increasing of the circle of literary life and action throughput- all America. The old ascendancy of. New England generally in matters appertaining to culture, and especially as regards Boston, is undoubtedly the same to-day as in old times, but the literary level of Now York and of tHe other great cities of the Union is rising up to it. In San Francisco there is not a gieat deal of literary activity. The large university known as Le land-Stanford is just oulsido the city of San Francisco, and exerts some degree of influ-

ence in tho direction of higher life and culture, but as a rule tho finer lines of li f e are not taken up to any great extent on the Pacific coast. It is still the land of gold, immense distances, boorriß, and physical and material aggrandisement. A growth in culture is particularly noticeable at the present time in Chicago — the city of sky-scrapers and trusts and "corners" and booms and material progress. This advance in culture is especially shown in art and scientific matters, such as painting, music, and the higher lines of life. There are, indeed, great expectations of a considerable impulse in that direction. Cincinnati ie really the headquarters of music and ( art. The finest pottery and ceramic ware iin the States are got from there, j and music is also greatly cultivated. This latter is probably due to tho fact that Cincinnati contains the largest number of Germans of any oity in America. Washington is getting to be the leading social city of the Stales, and is unique in this respect. Jt has hardly any industries or commercial ( activity. Being the centre of Government, it is the resort of many titled and influential visitors, and also attracts retired officers in the army and navy. All this gives it a social character and standing not possessed' by any other city in Amsriea. Boßton possesses by far the beat equipped public libraries in America. There are a number of magnificent public libraries in the States, but those in Boston are easily first. These' are the Puhlio Library, the Harvard Library, and the Athenajum Library, the three largest in the States, and they arc models of library administration. In New York there were three large libraries, which have now been consolidated, and Chicago has also a fine library, but in the development of intellectual life Boston is still first. The public libraries are open to the public in the broadest sense, and this is particularly so with regard to those in Boston and the Lennox Library in New York. In Boston there are wonderful facilities afforded to scholars and others seeking information. To anyone going with proper credentials everything is at his disposal, including some of the finest special collections in the world — among them a magnificent Shakeppearo collection, and also a fine Spaninb ot-e. The taking up by the United States of tha " White Man's Burden " in A tehriblk the Philippines is beset with order. considerable difficulties. The Filipinos are not only "sullen peoples," but they are a relentless, savage race. The coldbloodedness of the following order, which was issued by an important, officer of tho Insurgent Government at Malo-' los for execution during the evening and night of February 5; would be hard to surpass : — First—You will dispose at 8 o'cleok at night tho individuals of the territorial militia at your order in all of the streets of San Pedro, armed with their balos and revolvers or guns and ammunition, if convenient. Second — Philippine families only will be respected. They should not be molested, but all other individuals, of whatever race they be, will be exterminated, without any compassion, after the extermination of tho army of occupation.

Third— The defenders of the Philippines in your command will attack the guard at Bilibid and liberate the prisoners and " presidarios," and, .hiving accomplished .this, they will be armed, saying to them:

" Brothers, we must avenge ourselves on the Americans and exterminate them, that* we may take our revenge for the infamy and treachery _ which they have committed upon us. Have no compassion upon them. Attack with vigour. All Filipinos on masße will second you " Long live Filipino independence . Fifth — The order which will be followed in the attack v/ill "be as follows: The Sharpshooters of Tondo and Santa 4na will begin the nttack from without, and these shots will be the signal for the militia, of Troso, Binondo, Quiato, and Sampaloe to go out into the street and do their duty. Those of Pake, Ermita, and Malate, Santa Cruz, and San Miguel will not start out until 12 o'clock, unless they see that their companions need assistance. Sixth — The militia of Tondo will start out at 3 o'clock in the morning. If all do their duty our revenge will be complete. Brothers, Kurope contemplates. We know how we die as men, shedding our blood in defence of the liberty of our country. Death to the tyrants! War without quarter to the false Americans who have deceived us. Either independence or death ! There is no " fourth " in "the statement as cited by General Otis from Manila, and the dashes represent portions of his despatch which the officials at Washington were unable to decipher. .

Advice to Mothers! — Are you broken m your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chentint and yet a bottle of Mrs Wjnslow's* Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It ib perfectly harmless, and pleasant to the taite; it produces natural, quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the littla cherub awakes "as bright as a button." I* socthes the child, it aoftens the gums, -.Hays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhona, whether arising from teething or ather causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold k»y medicine dealers everywhere at Is li« per l-cttle.— Abvt